Derrick Rose 1-on-1 with Shams: On his role with the Knicks, Bulls legacy and life after retirement

Derrick Rose understands that his career arc has been unique: from being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, to being a nba All-Star and the youngest MVP in league history, devastating injuries, the role of sixth man, the fight for a reserve role, now serving as a veteran leader waiting for his next moment of opportunity with the The New York Knicks.

Rose, 34, began his 14th season in coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, but has since taken on a more leadership role as Thibodeau turned to more minutes to miles mcbride. Rose and Thibodeau are as close as any player-coaching duo in the league, having been together for the better part of the last decade, so the conversation about Rose’s diminished role was straightforward. Throughout, Rose has maintained his joy for basketball and a new sense of appreciation for staying in the NBA as long as he can.

“I learned a simple lesson: keep being here,” Rose said. the athletic. “On the one hand, I am very grateful to understand my role. I am not here by right, I am not here feeling that I need minutes or anything like that. I’m just here to win and try to help young people. I never thought I would be in this position. I never thought I would play so many years.

“I’m waiting for my chance, sure, but I can’t complain. be in this position. I am taking advantage of it. I’m looking at where I’m saving my body, and you never know in the playoffs when it might be used.”

The Knicks have turned their season around, from a 10-13 start to their current seven-game winning streak and the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference at 17-13. jalen brunson, Julius Randle Y rj barrett continue to lead these Knicks, with strong contributing roles from Quentin Grimes, mitchell robinson, Emmanuel Quickley, Isaiah Hartenstein and McBride. What the athletic‘s Fred Katz recently expanded, New York has been discussing business scenarios around various players, including Rose, Quickley, reddish cam Y Evan Fournieran aspect that does not put off Rose.

“The team keeps communication with me open: when they told me I don’t think they want to move me like this, they know I have a lot left, and they love my connection and relationship that I have with everyone. the players on the team,” Rose said. “I’m not in the locker room trying to fuck up the vibe of the team with a messy attitude like that. I’ve had so many lifetimes in the NBA that now I’m in a position where I can sit back, teach the young guys, and if Thibs needs me, I can get up to speed and play how I want to play.”

Rose recently went face to face with the athletic to discuss his role as leader, Brunson’s rise, his Chicago Bulls legacy and his desire to own a team after his playing days.

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How do you handle this new roster spot, being out of the rotation and having such a significant locker room presence?

It makes my job easier to see Jalen, to see the way he’s playing. He listens, so that’s half the battle when you’re dealing with someone like that. He is a great player, a winner too. He won in college, he won in high school, and now he’s trying to win at the next level. So it’s up to me to guide him, and not be forced, but try to give him as much information, knowledge and wisdom as he can.

I know how close you and Tom are. What was that conversation like between the two of you when he informed you that you would be out of rotation in the future?

It was a regular convo. She just said that she was going with Deuce (McBride), and I told her that I understood. I’m cool with Deuce, super cool with Deuce. I spent Thanksgiving with him last year, all of it. I reached out to his family. And for him to be in my position, there’s no way he’s going to hate or hate the minutes that he gets, especially when he’s playing the way he’s been playing and is producing. I just played my part by cheering him on, being a professional, leading by example. Just be a professional about it.

However, how much does it consume you as a competitor?

I do not want to play. But at the same time, there is still a lot of basketball left. Thibs (and I) always talk about it: he always says that this is the bottom of the mountain, that we have a whole mountain to climb. I just have to make sure I’m always prepared. That is the biggest challenge. Being in the new position, being in a new situation every year, this year is the first time I went through this. So learning, adapting, trying to keep my body ready if you need me, all of that will take time. But it should be good.

How often do you think about the departure of some of the best bigs in the game who perhaps had a hard time adjusting to a lesser role or leadership role late in their career?

I do a little bit, but I feel like my story is unique in that I’m with a coach who allowed me to come to whatever team I was on and he’ll figure it out for me. I love my conditioning, so being in this position, things can change quickly and I could be playing. Just like how things got fast when I wasn’t playing. Always being optimistic. As long as we’re winning… if we weren’t winning right now, I’d probably have a different approach, because I’m human. But as long as we’re winning, that’s all that matters to me.

There are always talks about whether your No. 1 should retire in Chicago and whether you’re a Hall of Fame selection. What do you feel?

I feel the love I get wherever, wherever I go in the country, out of the country, that’s all I need. That’s all I need. Even then, I don’t like fame. I don’t like being seen like this. I’m in a quagmire type of situation. It’s kind of awkward, where I feel like it’s going to be great for my family to attend a jersey retirement ceremony like that. But I think about what I would have to say while I’m on the court. It’s a little weird. I’m there, but I’m like, ‘Damn, I’m going to have to talk to everyone at the celebration.’ That’s what I think because I don’t always like that moment.

How do you see this next chapter of your career?

Organize myself, be a professional for the youth and position myself to be in the place where I could do whatever I wanted. I felt that I saved enough money. It has never been about money. I saved enough. Now, that idea that I feel like I could have a chance to do whatever I want. If I want to get into the world of coaching, that’s probably not it. If I want to get into something in the world of basketball, I know I have the network to do it. But who knows?

Training?

I dont know. I feel that training is a great responsibility. And with my family right now, I can say that it is my biggest responsibility. Making sure I’m there, giving them my time, giving them my life. Trying to arrange my life with them, buying a piece of land, building a manger, organizing myself as a man. They provide me with a family so that this generational wealth can be passed on.

What do you see for yourself after the race? (Rose has earned more than $150 million during his playing career. In 2012, Rose also signed a contract with Adidas for $190 million over 14 years.)

I’m on the property. I feel like I saved enough. It’s not that I need a loan, I’m fine. So I’m waiting. I’m biding my time.

(Derrick Rose top photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)